Philadelphia MFT

Labor day is over, and you know what that means: Football season is finally here! The hibernation that has been in existence since February is over. How will this year compare to those past? Will the Giants win yet another Super Bowl, or will the Eagles be able to take the NFC East? Will Peyton’s injury impact his fantasy value, or will he continue to be a premier quarterback? And will your fantasy team finally win a championship with all of the hard work you have put in to drafting the perfect team? While half of the country is excitedly preparing their fantasy teams for glory, the other half is dreading Wednesday night kickoff. For some, it signifies the time of year where they lose their spouse, and will most days (there’s a game on Thursday to Monday most weeks) be talking to a brick wall. Those uninterested in football can see it as a barrier between them and a happy, healthy relationship. But it does not have to be that way! You may be asking yourself how is this possible? This very issue has been around for decades, and nothing seems to have been resolved. The answer is simple: a combination of compartmentalization and prioritization. As the pro-football person in the relationship, you have to take the lead in establishing boundaries. You have to decide, with your partner, what time will be dedicated to football, and what time will be dedicated to the relationship. If you spend game time and an hour after work focused on football, and listen to your partner’s needs at other designated times, your relationship should sail very smoothly through football season. It is important to remember that the time focused on your partner must be quality time, or they will still feel like you are paying more attention to RG3’s growth potential than you are to anything they have to say. The bottom line is that quality, not quantity, will lead to success. Ultimately, you can have your cake and eat it too if you are willing to put as much effort into your relationship as you are into add/drops. Listen, be attentive, and create boundaries around your relationship and your football time. Your fantasy season AND your relationship will be better off for it.